Round 7 Feature Match: Naveen Shankar Versus Griffin Gamrat

July 14th, 2013

Maryland’s 16-year-old Naveen Shankar was the winner of the Dragon Duel WCQ in 2009, and as a result of that victory, earned the honor of attending a special tournament in Japan. Now, 4 years later, he’s undefeated in the main WCQ tournament, Dueling against undefeated 17-year-old Griffin Gamrat from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is Gamrat’s first WCQ, so Shankar has experience on his side. Will that be enough to bring Shankar the victory? It’s time to Duel!

Shankar drew Gold Sarcophagus next turn. He detached an Xyz Material from Dracossack to Special Summon 2 Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens and then Tributed one of his Tokens to destroy Kycoo with Dracossack’s effect. Next, he banished Blaster and Redox from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tempest from his Graveyard. Then, he used the effects of Blaster and Redox to add another Redox and a copy of Burner from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Burner and Redox to Special Summon Blaster from his Deck and then combined Blaster and Tempest to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye. He activated the effect of Big Eye to take control of Diamond Dire Wolf and then switched it into Attack Position. Next, he used Gold Sarcophagus to banish Tidal from his Deck, and activated the effect of Tidal to add Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets from his Deck to his hand. He Summoned Steam, and then direct attacks from Diamond Dire Wolf and Steam finished off Gamrat’s last 3350 Life Points.

Duel Two

Gamrat started off Duel 2 by Summoning 2 copies of Evilswarm Castor and combining them to Summon EvilswarmOphion. He activated its effect by detaching an Xyz Material, but lost out to Shankar’s Effect Veiler. He Set 2 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Gamrat detached an Xyz Material from Ophion to grab another Pandemic from his Deck. Next, he Summoned Evilswarm Kerykeion and banished a Castor from his Graveyard to activate its effect; but he lost out to Effect Veiler. Gamrat Set 1 card to his back row before passing.

He discarded Stream and Tempest to Special Summon Tidal from his Deck and then banished Stream and Tempest from his Graveyard to Special Summon Redox from his hand. Next, he used the effect of Tempest to add DragunityCorsescafrom his Deck to his hand. He Summoned Corsesca next, and Tuned it with Redox to Synchro Summon Thought Ruler Archfiend in Attack Position.

Gamrat Summoned Evilswarm Castor and then Evilswarm O’Lantern. He Tributed O’Lantern to destroy Thought Ruler Archfiend, and then used Monster Reborn to revive the O’Lantern. He combined O’Lantern with Castor to Xyz Summon Ophion next, and detached an Xyz Material from Ophion to add Pandemic to his hand. He Set a card to his back row before ending his turn. Tidal returned to Shankar’s hand in Gamrat’s End Phase.

Shankar drew Super Rejuvenation next turn. He Summoned Psi-Blocker, naming Ophion with its effect, and then banished Redox and Corsesca from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tidal from his Graveyard. Tidal attacked and destroyed Ophion, and then Psi-Blocker attacked directly, dropping Gamrat down to 6750 Life Points. Shankar Set MysticalSpace Typhoon before ending his turn.

Shankar discarded Reactan and Tempest from his hand to Special Summon Redox from his Deck in Defense Position, and then Shankar banished Reactan and Psi-Blocker to Special Summon Tempest. Gamrat detached an Xyz Material from Nightmare to put Tempest face-down, and then Shankar Tributed Tempest and Redox to Tribute Summon Tidal. He attacked and destroyed Evilswarm Nightmare. Shankar activated Super Rejuvenation to draw 4 cards in his End Phase.

Shankar activated HeavyStorm next turn! Gamrat’s Infection, Forbidden Dress, and Infestation Pandemic were threatened, and Gamrat Chained the Dress, followed by the Pandemic. Shankar Summoned Psi-Blocker next, and named Evilswarm Castorwith its effect. Then he activated SacredSwordofSevenStars, and banished Tidal from his hand to draw 2 cards. He used the effect of Tidal to add Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets from his Deck to his hand. Next, Shankar discarded Stream and Blaster from his hand to Special Summon Tidal from his Deck. He banished Redox and Stream from his Graveyard to Special Summon Blaster next, and used Redox’s effect to add another Redox to his hand. Next, he discarded Lightning and Redox to Special Summon Tempest from his Deck. He combined Tempest and Tidal to Xyz Summon Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and then banished Tidal and Lightning from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tempest. Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack attacked and destroyed Ophion, and then Psi-Blocker, Blaster, and Tempest attacked directly, dropping Gamrat down to 300 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Shankar combined Blaster and Tempest to Xyz Summon Dracossack, and detached an Xyz Material to Summon 2 Tokens. He activated Super Rejuvenationnext, drawing 4 cards.